Real Tools for Combatting Fake NewsHear how publishers have reacted to instances of “fake news” in their communities, as well as the accusation that their real news is fake. Go home with tools for coping in the future.Moderator: David Chavern, president and CEO, News Media AlliancePanelists: Travis Quast, publisher, Twin Falls Times-News; Tom Rosenstiel, executive director, American Press Institute

Track 1 Branded ContentThis marketing tactic has grown from practically nothing to a $10B business opportunity in just a few short years. See how local media can and has been leveraging this solution.Pat Connolly, managing director/digital transformation, Accentur; Robin Gruen, vice president, branded content, Studio 1847 (tronc)

Track 4 Solutions Stage: Product Development and OutsourcingModerator:Bob LeBoeuf, president and founder, Exsolate

Alexa,OTT and Mobile Apps: Distribute and Monetize on All Digital PlatformsConsumption habits are changing. See how you can distribute and monetize your content on these platforms and more: Amazon, Echo, Alexa, Roku TV, Apple TV, Fire TV and mobile apps.Nikhil Modi, CEO, Whiz Technologies

Subcontracting Page, Ad and Web ProductionLearn how subcontracting this aspect of newspaper production works, the upside and the pitfalls, and how you can evaluate if this is a solution for your newspaper.Howard Barbanel, vice president and director of marketing, Design2Pro

Growing Revenue for Newspapers through Consumer Sports MagazinesLooking for a unique solution to a circulation dilemma at your newspaper, or wanting to connect better with your readers? How about just make a little extra cash?Kevin Craig, senior vice president/newspaper relations, AMG|Parade

GENERAL SESSION

Journalism of the Future

Gabriel Kahn, from USC’s j-school with several of his top students presenting their work on the future of journalismModerator: Gabriel Kahn, professor of journalism, USC Annenberg School of JournalismPanelists: Three students: Samantha Bergum, Gabriela Fernandez and James Tyner

5:30 - 7 p.m. - WELCOME RECEPTION

Evening Dinner on Your Own

Tuesday, Feb. 27

7 a.m. - 8 a.m. - CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST IN THE EXHIBIT HALL

7 a.m. - 5 p.m. - TRADE SHOW OPEN

Morning (starting at 8 a.m.) - GENERAL SESSION

Investing in Newspapers in 2018Our panel of top industry leaders, innovators and investors will share the strategy they are taking with their investments, their priorities and their concerns for 2018.Moderator: Penny Muse Abernathy, Knight Chair in Journalism and Digital Media Economics, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of North Carolina, Chapel HillPanelists: Mark Adams, CEO, Adams Publishing Group; Jeremy Halbreich, chairman and CEO, AIM Media Management; James M. Moroney, III, chairman, president and CEO, A. H. Belo Corporation, and publisher and CEO, The Dallas Morning News

Break to change rooms

BREAK-OUT SESSIONS (4 options)

Track 1 Driving Reader Relationships and RevenueSpeaker to be announced

Track 3 Diversifying Revenue with Digital OutdoorRevolutionizing the newspaper industry! The Digital Billboard Network is a new media video platform that plugs directly into your existing infrastructure and will increase revenue quickly for your newspaper. You will become an out-of-home/in-store broadcaster positioning you to acquire new revenue and grow your audience.Dave Kennedy, chief revenue officer, Honolulu Star-Advertiser

What’s the Opportunity for Audience?Local media companies are using their audience, content and brand to open a huge new market through local ticketing. Find out how ticketing can generate new money, drive email growth and diversity your brand and company.Deborah Fellows, president and founder, GeoTix

Yes, You Can (and must) Make Money From Social Media AccountsYour newspaper needs to take back some of the 60 percent of digital ad market share that Facebook and Google now dominate. Hear about a new way to sell that decreases time spent by your staff and provides customers with the ease of Facebook and Google ads.Reinig Morris, co-founder, Friends2Follow

Digital TransformationNavigating the digital revolution can feel like sailing through uncharted – and sometimes stormy – waters. Learn how you can support a much broader spectrum of marketing channels for your customers.Laura Cole, vice president/marketing, Vivial

Track 2 Bringing Audio to LifeJeremy Mims, strategy and partnerships, SpokenLayer; An additional speaker also will be announced soon

Track 3 Finding Your NicheIn a world where a “Jack of all trades, master of nothing” is disrupted and meaningless, learn how companies like Cox and Advance are finding tremendous success building large niche followings with focused content and perspective, with non-traditional business models.Amy Glennon, publisher, Cox Media Group’s Vertical Businesses; Caywood Yamnik, director of sales, video, Alabama Media Group

How Much Revenue are You Losing Due to Ad Fraud?In addition to some case studies, hear about highlights from a recent study on the top 2,000 ranked Alexa news sites, the percent of sites that had vulnerabilities to ad fraud, types of fraud and tips for preventing fraudCasey Hester, vice president, customer success, Dev/Con Detect

Leverage Audiences to Drive Revenue DiversificationThe ability to leverage data enables marketers to deliver relevant communications that build the value of customer relationships. In the case of the Star Tribune Vacation & Travel Experience in Minneapolis, this ability drove success in the development and execution of events, a crucial source of revenue diversification.Tom Ratkovich, managing partner, LEAP Media Solutions

Leveraging Cross-Device OpportunitiesThe Specifix database offered by Data-Dynamix was leveraged after Hurricane Irma to reach homeowners in three Florida counties who needed assistance with insurance claims. Learn how this database can help your newspaper bring together local businesses and highly-sourced, accurate information on individuals – graphed against their individual device ID, IP address, physical address and opted in email information.Presented by Data-Dynamix (speaker to be announced)

Break to change rooms

GENERAL SESSION

Audience Engagement, Ad Quality and Subscription OffersThe Local Media Consortium is leveraging data across its member sites to benchmark best practices for audience engagement, ad quality and subscription offers. It’s also leading a strategic plan to collect more than 150 million email addresses – and data for targeting – to enrich CPMs across 15 billion ad impressions. Hear about LMC’s progress and gain ideas you can implement now.Rusty Coats, CEO, Local Media Consortium

Kroger’s Millions in Local Ad Spend are on the Line The vice president of data strategy for the analytics arm of Kroger, called 84.51°, will outline how newspapers and consumer packaged goods companies should use personalization to create new, productive business relationships that go beyond current advertising and inserts.Michael Wilhite, vice president of data strategy, 84.51°

12:15 pm - LUNCHSponsored by Alliance for Audited Media

Afternoon (starting at 1:30 p.m.)

BREAK-OUT SESSIONS (4 options)

Track 1 Programmatic Best PracticesThis session will feature a panel discussion that touches on yield management best practices and considerations that publishers need to take into account as the programmatic ecosystem continues to evolve. Our presenters represent some of the earliest adopting and most programmatically savvy local media organizations.Panelists: Tobias Bennett, programmatic and exchange champion, The Local Media Consortium; Raymond Faust, vice president sales, emerging media, Star Tribune Media Company; Nick Ames, director of client success, McClatchy Company

Track 2 Third-Party Platforms: AMP, Instant Articles and Apple NewsSpeaker to be announced

Auto Promotions and Events – A Case StudyLooking for a fresh new revenue stream in autos? Get valuable data from a Seattle Times case study and start hosting virtual events. Kevin Collins, director of sales and marketing, WeHaa; Cesar Montes, president, WeHaa

Empowering Media Companies to Take Their Brands and Markets BackHear how top media companies are reclaiming ownership of their local recruitment advertising markets and – in the process – growing digital revenue and delivering results for the employer. A case study will be presented. Roberto Angulo, CEO, Recruitology; Sandy Glover, digital revenue manager, McClatchy

Taking Back Local Advertising with Targeted Local Niche GuidesLocal Niche Guides can help your newspaper combat an ever-shifting digital landscape and get you back on solid ground. Configurable solutions that deliver compelling solutions! Phil Pracht, product manager, TownNews.com

Break to change rooms

BREAK-OUT SESSIONS (4 options)

Track 1 Magazines, Preprints and Other Non-ROP Print OpportunitiesSpeaker to be announced

Why Website Design and Flexibility MatterDesign matters and good user interfaces are critical to a newspaper’s success. Learn what will bring you consistently dramatic increases in traffic.Bill Ostendorf, president and founder, Creative Circle Media Solutions

Additional Solutions Stage sessions to be announced

R&D BREAK An opportunity to visit our sponsors and exhibitors!

GENERAL SESSION

Facebook Meets the PressLearn more about ways Facebook is investing its resources into improving its platform and partnerships with news media.Alex Hardiman, head of news products, Facebook

Excellence in InnovationLearn from the ‘Best of the Best’ as our Innovation Award finalists present their entries, followed by the announcement of the winner of the 2018 Mega Innovation Award.

Evening Dinner on Your Own

Wednesday, Feb. 28

7 - 8 a.m - CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST IN THE EXHIBIT HALL

7 - 11:30 a.m. - TRADE SHOW OPEN

Morning (starting at 8 a.m.) BREAK-OUT SESSIONS (3 options)

Track 1 Vertical Best PracticesSpeakers to be announced

Track 2 Refocus on Retention for Real Revenue UpsideSpeaker to be announced

Track 3 Planning for Life Without Preprints Speaker to be announced

Break to change rooms

GENERAL SESSION

How Nextdoor is Connecting Newspapers with Specific Neighborhoods News organizations of all sizes are committed to growing their trusted relationship with readers. Hear how Nextdoor, the world’s leading social network for neighbors, connects newspapers to specific neighborhoods and communities in an unprecedented fashion.Steve Wymer, vice president of communications and policy, Nextdoor; Matthew Hall, editorial and opinion director, The San Diego Union-Tribune

Trusted Brands PrimerSpeaker to be announced

Branding Workshop Marketing guru Andy Cunningham will show you a new framework for positioning that will help answer the two most difficult questions our industry faces in the digital age. Who are you? And why do you matter? Repositioning an old industry for a new relevance is possible. Come and learn how.Andy Cunningham, CEO, Cunningham Collective